Imagine yourself traveling from Naples, Florida to an exotic destination clear across the world only to find that your luggage didn’t follow you there.
Yes, it can and does happen more times than you can imagine. Most airline customer service desks are good at tracking it down (unless it’s been stolen off of the carousel, of course) but why spend valuable time and energy searching for a lost bag when all you want to do is enjoy your vacation?
Here are 3 ways to beat the lost or stolen bag dilemma:
Forget the checking of your bag in the first place – Dilemma solved. Airlines these days charge for checked bags which prompts many travelers to use carry on size bags and bring it on the plane with them. Doing this will ensure that you don’t lose your bags, they’re not stolen off a baggage carousel and instead of waiting at the carousel for your bags once you de-plane you simply grab your carry-ons from above your seat. Voila! Let the vacation begin.
Book layovers with enough time for you and your bags to make it to your next flight – Of course, as a Naples, Florida travel agency we will never book a flight with less than an hour between flights simply because the chances that you or your luggage will miss the connecting flight is high. (Yet another reason why choosing the right travel agent is pertinent for stress free traveling).
Identify your bags well – You’ll see signs in most airports around the world that say “Many bags look alike. Please check your bag tags to ensure you’re grabbing the right bag.” Yes, many bags look exactly the same from the outside. That’s why it’s important that you tag your bags properly. For example, put two bag tags on each bag because more times than not a bag tag will rip off. Add bright, neon luggage straps or something identifiable to ensure that you grab the right bag. Also, if someone else grabs your bag on accident it will be easy to spot your identifying element if it’s trying to stroll away in someone else’s hands.
In the event that your bag is lost or stolen, don’t wait! You may be waiting in line for a while if you go to your airlines customer service counter so we recommend calling the 1-800 number or trying to reach them on social media. Many airlines now a days have instant messenger set up on their Facebook or Twitter accounts to handle situations like lost or stolen luggage. Many times it’s quicker to go that route than to wait at the customer service counter or on hold when dialing their 1-800 number.
Either way, we’re here to help as well. As your travel agency it’s our job to ensure your trip is fabulous. You’ll notice that with each group or package we book for our clients we always give an emergency contact number to reach us if you run into any type of problem. That’s just another reason why booking with us, a local, Naples travel agency is 10X better than booking a trip online.
If you’re still looking for a travel agency in Naples, Florida, please give us a call. We’re here to book your dream vacation, group travel or multi-generational cruise getaway.